clipless for scaredy cats?

[midgetcycler]

Then I switched to Speeplays (looks like a lollipop).

Do you ever hear people saying that these break easily? I saw one of these in the middle of the road on my Tour de Pink ride Sunday (or Tour de Boobs as I saw amelia05 call it). There was no screw to attach it to the bike, just the little round thingy you clip your shoe onto.

it was at the beginning of the ride too. I sure felt bad for that guy.

[KSH]

Do you ever hear people saying that these break easily? I saw one of these in the middle of the road on my Tour de Pink ride Sunday (or Tour de Boobs as I saw amelia05 call it). There was no screw to attach it to the bike, just the little round thingy you clip your shoe onto.

it was at the beginning of the ride too. I sure felt bad for that guy.

Well, I haven't heard that.

I have had mine for over 1 year and around 2,500 miles and they are in 100% perfect condition.

[emily_in_nc]

Do you ever hear people saying that these break easily? I saw one of these in the middle of the road on my Tour de Pink ride Sunday (or Tour de Boobs as I saw amelia05 call it). There was no screw to attach it to the bike, just the little round thingy you clip your shoe onto.

My husband and I have been riding Speedplay X-2's for years, many thousands of miles overall, and have never had one break. It's possible that the less expensive models they make now (X-5??) are not as robust, however.

Emily

[indysteel]

I totally recommend clipless pedals, although they do take some practice. I purchased two bikes this year. The first was a Trek FX hybrid. It came with Wellgo SPD clipless pedals, but the LBS switched them out for Shimano one-sided SPDs. I bought some Nike touring shoes with recessed cleats to use with them that are pretty comfortable.

Before hitting the road, I practiced getting in and out of the cleats by propping myself up in a doorway. After working on it for a bit, I started to develop a sense of where the cleat was in relation to my foot and the pedal. They were pretty easy to use after that. Admittedly, I did take the obligatory fall on one of my firsts rides, but quickly learned my lesson. Within a couple of weeks, I was only using the clipless side of the pedals.

A couple of months later, I bought my first road bike--a Bianchi Eros Donna. It, too, came with Wellgo SPDs, but I immediately swapped them out for Keo Sprints. These have taken a little more of an adjustment. I practiced using them at the LBS while the bike was on a trainer. My first couple of rides, however, were still kind of tough. I ended up loosening the tension on the pedals quite a bit and then practicing in a parking lot. Keo's sort of float backwards when you're not clipped in. So to clip in, you have to first push the pedal down with your toe. It's taken some time for that action to become fluid and automatic. I still sometimes have to get all the way through an intersection before getting clipped in.

Anyway, here are a few observations:

Everybody seems to have a preference when it comes to brand/type. I talked to the guys at my LBS a lot before settling on the Keos Sprints. Weight wasn't that big of an issue, but in the Look/Keo line, some pedals have more adjustable tension than others. Your LBS should be able to explain that factor to you. Also, if you have knee problems, talk to your LBS about using a pedal/cleat system that has some "float."

Everybody has a preference when it comes to road shoes too, although SIDIs seem to be the most popular. Try on as many as you can. I ordered my first pair off of Nashbar. They weren't women-specific and while they fit okay, they weren't great. I then bought a pair of SIDA Zetas for women that fit much better. Whether you go with a mountain/touring or road shoe, make sure that they're well-ventilated, big enough to allow for some foot swelling, and are compatible with the type of pedal that you've purchased. Insoles can help make them more comfortable too.

Always unclip the same foot when you come to a stop. In my opinion, this helps use of the pedals become more automatic, and you're less likely to fall. If there's any chance that I'm going to have to stop, I unclip my left foot but then I keep the foot on the pedal so that if I don't end up stopping, I can easily just push down and clip back in. I only unclip my right foot when I stop along the side of the road to eat something or actually dismount the bike.

Be patient with yourself. There is a learning curve but considering how many riders swear by clipless pedals, it's easily surmounted. Just stick with it.

In my opinion, it's worth it to pay a fitter to make sure your cleats are positioned correctly on the shoe. When my LBS installed my cleat, they essentially approximated where the cleats should be. A month later, I had a professional bike fitting that included cleat positioning. The fitter measured my foot and precisely reset the cleat to maximize my power and comfort.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

Kate

[ReneeLynne]

Wow, what great responses!!!!!!! Thank you so much to all of you.

OK, so as I'm continuing to assimilate all this information, here are a couple questions for clarification --

1. Do all road clipless systems come with non-recessed cleats, or do some of them have recessed cleats? In other words, to get the recessed cleats (which would seem to be good since I have a habit of riding my bike to Starbucks) do I have to get a mountain bike system?

2. Is it totally impossible or highly damaging to walk on the non-recessed cleats, or just a huge nuisance?

3. Everyone is saying to allow room in the shoes for foot swell, and I've noticed on the other boards that a lot of folks with clipless systems seem to have sore big toes . But how much room is the right amount? Should they feel totally loose all around, or just a bit too long, or too long and too wide?

[indysteel]

Wow, what great responses!!!!!!! Thank you so much to all of you.

OK, so as I'm continuing to assimilate all this information, here are a couple questions for clarification --

1. Do all road clipless systems come with non-recessed cleats, or do some of them have recessed cleats? In other words, to get the recessed cleats (which would seem to be good since I have a habit of riding my bike to Starbucks) do I have to get a mountain bike system?

2. Is it totally impossible or highly damaging to walk on the non-recessed cleats, or just a huge nuisance?

3. Everyone is saying to allow room in the shoes for foot swell, and I've noticed on the other boards that a lot of folks with clipless systems seem to have sore big toes . But how much room is the right amount? Should they feel totally loose all around, or just a bit too long, or too long and too wide?

Renee, the non-recessed/recessed cleat issue is partly a function of the pedal and partly a function of the shoe. I think most "road" systems, i.e., the pedal plus the shoe, are non-recessed. That would include Look, Speedplay, and Time pedals to name a few of the more popular systems. SPD pedals are used (I think) primarily with touring and mountain shoes that have recessed cleats. There's certainly nothing wrong with using those on a road bike. I know plenty of roadies who just find a recessed cleat easier to use, especially for touring. The bikes used for my gym's spinning class also have SPD pedals.

It's not impossible to walk in a non-recessed cleat, although I wouldn't recommend going too far in them. They're a little treacherous on kitchen floors and the like, but it helps if you remember to put the weight in your heels as you walk in them. There's also a product on the market called Kool Kovers that are plastic covers that slip over the cleats. They make them for both Look (and Look-style) and Keo cleats. They're available from a variety of online retailers and cost about $10-15. I bring them with me when I know I'm going to walk in my road shoes. Otherwise, I leave them at home.

As for swelling: The guy who sold me my SIDIs put me in a women's size 40. That's about a half-size bigger than what I wear in regular shoes. Even with that, they sometimes get a wee bit snug by the end of a long ride. I like the shoe though. They're light and easily adjustable with three velcro straps. My other pair of shoes were by Vittoria and were a men's size 39. They were a little big/wide for me but otherwise light and comfortable. I also think it helps to wearing cycling/running specific socks. They're generally thinner and more absorbant than regular athletic socks.

I hope that helps!

Kate

[postiechic]

The first was a Trek FX hybrid. It came with Wellgo SPD clipless pedals, but the LBS switched them out for Shimano one-sided SPDs

so what's wrong with the Wellgo pedals? My Trek came with em too(one side clip, one side platform) but I only used em for the first time yesterday. Are they not a very good pedal? Just curious.

[KSH]

so what's wrong with the Wellgo pedals? My Trek came with em too(one side clip, one side platform) but I only used em for the first time yesterday. Are they not a very good pedal? Just curious.

Well, I am sure they good pedals... but when I have seen someone in action with them... it was just plain DANGEROUS. Why?

Because we (my friend and I who were riding) would start from a light, in traffic, and her head was down for a couple of BLOCKS and she was trying to find/flip around the pedal for the side that she needed to clip her cleat into. Worried me the whole time.

The idea of the pedals is great... but in reality, they seem to be a lot of work... from what I observed.

[postiechic]

Because we (my friend and I who were riding) would start from a light, in traffic, and her head was down for a couple of BLOCKS and she was trying to find/flip around the pedal for the side that she needed to clip her cleat into.

Well yeah..good point.....but it shouldnt take you that long to find the right side....and besides, with practice, finding the right side would/should get easier all the time.

[mary9761]

right now I'm still on the Navigator 50 and I'm using toe cages. I hope that when I get a road bike that it will at least have me a bit more prepared for clipping in and out. I've only fallen a couple times with the cages when I was making a sharp turn and lost balance. Of course it had to be in front of the gorgeous chocolate roadie that had just spoken to me and 3 skinny chickies that had just stepped onto the MONON. One of my feet was trapped under the bike and nearly tangled in the derailleur. The roadie came over to help and strained to pick up the nearly 50# bike off of my foot. I was embarassed, but ok.
I've already talked to several at The Bike Line in both Carmel and Downtown, that when I make the move to a road bike, I will likely go to the pedal types with the platform on one side and clip on the other. I use my bike for everything (basically IS my car) so I will more than likely also use mtb shoes that will clip in and out. This way I won't have to worry about the cleat (waddle) or scratching floors in stores.
Mary

[SadieKate]

. . . Of course it had to be in front of the gorgeous chocolate roadie that had just spoken to me . . .

Am I showing some lack of street cred? What does this mean?

[mimitabby]

Am I showing some lack of street cred? What does this mean?

either something to eat or a brown bike? that's a good idea, a brown and tan bike! that would be beautiful!

[mary9761]

Originally Posted by mary9761
. . . Of course it had to be in front of the gorgeous chocolate roadie that had just spoken to me . .

Am I showing some lack of street cred? What does this mean?

sorry, I meant to say he is a gorgeous African American gentleman that I've met at some of the rides and the LBS. He looks a LOT like a young Billy Dee Williams.
I hope I didn't offend anyone, it was really not my intention..